Picturehouse Create has unveiled new additions to its 2026 programme, with four film screenings headlining four days of events at Picturehouse Central from 15-18 April.
The industry-focused festival’s second edition commences on 15 April with an opening night screening of Rebuilding, with director Max Walker-Silverman (A Love Song) in attendance.
Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025, Rebuilding stars Josh O’Connor in a “ruminative, moving portrait of resilience and human connection, filmed against the rapturous backdrop of southern Colorado”.
On 18 April, the festival closes with a special screening of Rose of Nevada, followed by a Q&A with director Mark Jenkin and producer Denzil Monk, hosted by filmmaker Ben Sharrock.
Rose of Nevada follows Jenkin’s BAFTA award-winning debut Bait (2019) and Enys Men (2022), and stars George MacKay and Callum Turner.
Unique among British feature filmmakers for the analogue way in which he crafts his films, once again Jenkin is the writer, director, director of photography and editor. The film will be released in UK and Irish cinemas by the BFI on 24 April.
The festival has also announced a new Presenting Partner for this year’s event, with Netflix supporting the 2026 programme.
“Netflix has a longstanding commitment to developing new, emerging and mid-career talent in the UK, and its partnership with Picturehouse Create forms part of its broader Generation N work, which since 2021 has seen Netflix invest more than £30 million in UK skills and training programmes, working with partners across the industry to help creatives at every stage of their careers,” Picturehouse said.
Ollie Madden, director of UK film, Netflix, said: “The UK is home to an extraordinary community of filmmakers and storytellers, and festivals like Picturehouse Create play an important role in bringing that creative community together.
“Opportunities like this are exactly what our Generation N work is about, so we’re delighted to partner with Picturehouse to help filmmakers connect, learn, and share their work.”
True to the festival’s “ethos of championing homegrown talent”, the programme looks back at two great British films of the last decade during Picturehouse Create.
On 16 April, the festival celebrates God’s Own Country with a screening introduced by filmmaker Francis Lee. On 17 April, Censor marks its fifth anniversary with a screening and Q&A, with filmmaker Prano Bailey-Bond in attendance alongside the film’s cast and crew.
Create’s film lineup gives insight into the diverse programme of events on offer. Highlights include a day of events focused on the horror genre, including a panel featuring Bailey-Bond and filmmaker Alice Lowe, chaired by The Evolution of Horror’s Mike Muncer.
Also on offer is a masterclass on screenwriting hosted by Script Apart’s Al Horner; a discussion on film festivals hosted by Mark Brennan of Festival Formula, featuring representatives from Edinburgh International Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival and the BFI; and the return of daily networking brunches and the Agents’ Speed Meeting event.
2026 also sees the return of the festival’s Short Film Showcase. Its Jury Prize is supported once again by Company 3, who donated a $10,000 prize in the form of in-kind services for colour and sound post-production (terms and conditions apply), alongside a newly-introduced £1,000 cash prize courtesy of Picturehouse.
The winner of the Audience Award, voted for by attendees at the showcase, will now also receive a £500 cash prize.
Alongside events presented by BIFA, NFTS and more, industry leaders and talent continue to be added to the programme, featuring executives from agencies Sara Putt and Casarotto, Film4 and BFI among others.
More information is available on the Picturehouse website.
